Why Lakers will beat the Suns

[D-Dogg]

You played against Seattle and Sacramento, two teams that were tanking, Mike Wilks abused Farmar and so did Bibby.

Parker played well last year agaisnt the Suns and also this year. Lets see what your rookie can do against Nash, maybe he learned some tricks in the NBDL.

a) Wilks abused Smush, not Farmar. In fact, Wilks wen OFF when Smush came in to play the second quarter. Bibby was on fire and abused everyone...you can't stop that.

b) I called this a while back, when Phil sent Jordan to the NBDL (ask abomb, as I'm quite proud of my seeing this coming). Phil knew he was going to move to Jordan, and he had been sitting for awhile after hitting the rookie wall. When he brought him back from NBDL and to the NBA game in the same day, giving him playing time, and then doing it over and over again it was clear to me that Phil was trying to get him in a rythm so he'd be ready to start for the playoffs. Then Jordan starts the last two games of the season and contributes to a +19 when he is on the floor, vs a +1 for smush. Doesn't matter who they were playing, 18 points better with one guy out there than the other is significant. So the NBDL was for Jordan to stretch his legs out and get back in game shape in anticipation of playing major minutes in the playoffs. The genius of Phil Jackson at work.

 

[SO91]

While I agree with you that Farmar is a far better option for the Lakers than Smush, you are putting a lot of confidence on a rookie that hasn't played a minute in the playoffs. It's been said all over the place, the regular season and the playoffs are two different things. The Lakers have a chance, as does any team playing...that is the nature of a sport and competition. But as you have mentioned before, they are a one and done team any way you slice it!

 

[D-Dogg]

While I agree with you that Farmar is a far better option for the Lakers than Smush, you are putting a lot of confidence on a rookie that hasn't played a minute in the playoffs.

I've been waiting for it for most of the year. He's a better player, and though it is VERY different, I admit, the guy brought it in the NCAAs last season, and was the only one who showed up for the championship game. I like Farmar a great deal, and I think the Lakers got a steal in him at 26...I also think that Smush would be a very good sixth man if his ego would let him.

The Lakers are against a wall to start with...I'm glad that Farmar is going to be battle tested as a rookie, since I feel he actually has a future with the team while Smush does not.

Phil is putting a lot of confidence in him as well, and that's good enough for me.

 

[SO91]

He is a good player, and I vividly remember him torching Arizona the 2 years he was at UCLA (I was envious considering we had Mustafa f'ing Shakur opposite of him), but it's still a 7 game series in the playoffs. He could very well step up his game, and it wouldn't surprise me too much, but if he's one of your keys for success, it's not looking too good for you my friend

Does Phil have any other choice? I mean he can't do much worse than Smush or Sasha (is Williams and McKey still on the roster?)

 

[F-Dog]

The Lakers haven't beaten a team with a winning record since the All-Star break. Think about that for a moment.

Winning one game in this series would probably qualify as a moral victory for the Lakers--making two moral victories in a row for them*. With the bar set so low, it's no wonder their fans are so optimistic.






*Maybe next season the Lakers can keep their moral winning streak going, by finally getting their post-Shaq record above the .500 mark!

 

[D-Dogg]

He could very well step up his game, and it wouldn't surprise me too much, but if he's one of your keys for success, it's not looking too good for you my friend

I never said I was optimistic..we had a better shot last year. Though a lot of my ill will is because the team has looked terrible since January. Who knows...Tyron Lue basically won a finals for us by himself by frustrating Allen Iverson...stranger things have happened.

Does Phil have any other choice? I mean he can't do much worse than Smush or Sasha (is Williams and McKey still on the roster?)

Mckie is old as dirt, but I think Shammond will make the playoff roster (he also, is better than Smush, IMO.)

I also really like Sasha...he's a scrub, yes, but the guy is a pesky, pesky defender. Bibby hates him and when he's guarding him Bibby doesn't do well. If Sasha is hitting his shots, he'll get PT and will likely piss Nash off with his close guarding. If he's off, he won't stop shooting and Phil will have to pull him. I love Sasha's confidence even though he can stink it up...he never feels like he's off. Apparently the dude never misses in practice and the Lakers are desperate to find out how to get "Practice Sasha" to show up for a real game.

 

[kb24]

The Lakers have not been fully healthy since the All Star break either. A lot of ppl put down Kwame Brown ,but he is our best low post defender,and the Lakers have missed that. Elton Brand destroys the Lakers when Kwame is out the lineup,and that resulted in us having to double and triple team,and that leaves perimiter guys wide open. Kwame is a much better defender then Bynum.

Offensively as Kobe said ,Kwame sets screens like a linebacker. He frees up Kobe with his screens,he is also a good passer from the post in the triangle. Something Phil said Bynum needs to work on.

 

[D-Dogg]

So, kb24, who are you on Lakersground? When I post over there (rarely) it is as D-Dogg.

 

[kb24]

Im B-Scott from realgm

 

[SO91]

And the Lakers are still not healthy buddy, despite what you saw the last 2 games. If I'm wrong on this D-Dogg please correct me, but the injuries they have will be taken care of in the offseason.

Oh and by the way, I think the Suns can sympathize with you on the 'Practice Sasha' thing, considering we hear the same thing about James Jones

 

[F-Dog]

Too bad for you guys the Clippers didn't make it to the #2 seed, I guess.

I can hardly wait until Monday--"Kwame isn't fully healthy yet, you know!", etc.

 

[D-Dogg]

And the Lakers are still not healthy buddy, despite what you saw the last 2 games. If I'm wrong on this D-Dogg please correct me, but the injuries they have will be taken care of in the offseason.

Oh and by the way, I think the Suns can sympathize with you on the 'Practice Sasha' thing, considering we hear the same thing about James Jones

Nope, they are far from healthy. Lamar is definitely having surgery in the offseason. Kwame is most likely going to. Turiaf's hip needs rest. I think Luke is ok. Bynum needs a spine surgery.

But injuries aren't an excuse...we can beat you in this series but most likely we won't.

At least we've seen Practice Sasha in a couple of games...has James Jones done anything for you guys? And why the hell do you guys always get so many "JJ" players on the Suns?

 

[OldDirtMcGirt]

The difference though with Bynum now is now Kwame is back and starting. Now Bynum can go against the Suns 2nd unit and not there 1st unit like during the regular season. He is most effective in that role.

Bynum doesn't want to play against Kurt Thomas, who is our best low post defender by far.

 

[D-Dogg]

Too bad for you guys the Clippers didn't make it to the #2 seed, I guess.

I can hardly wait until Monday--"Kwame isn't fully healthy yet, you know!", etc.

You honestly don't know me very well.

 

[F-Dog]

You honestly don't know me very well.

I know your friends just fine. As well as I want to, in fact.

 

[D-Dogg]

I know your friends just fine. As well as I want to, in fact.

My friends? And who might that be? Most of them are suns fans.

 

[TheHopToad]

And the Lakers are still not healthy buddy, despite what you saw the last 2 games.

Despite what you saw the last two games? More like "as evidenced by what you saw the last two games", because if that was a healthy Laker team that put up such a pathetic performance against two of the worst teams in the league, then they have no hope, wins not withstanding.

As is their style, they blew a large first half lead against the Sonics and had to sweat it down to the wire against a depleted team that was trying to lose. And the only reason they beat Sacramento is because the Kings shut down the starters late in the game and Kobe brought the team back against the Kings' JV squad. Bibby didn't even play at all in the final quarter, but Kobe sure had to.

There's no way they can beat the Suns in a seven game series this year. Kobe may try to spread the ball around and keep his teammates involved, but when they fail to get it done, he will panic and go into Kobe mode and try to save the game singlehandedly, and by that time it will be too late. Besides, that's what the Suns want him to do. The more Kobe scores in this series, the worse it will be for the Lakers.

He'll eventually get to a point where he doesn't get his way and he will just pick up his ball and go home....just like game 7 last year.

 

[F-Dog]

...and now D-Dogg goes on my ignore list.

Can you imagine what it would be like to have him modding this place?

 

[D-Dogg]

And the only reason they beat Sacramento is because the Kings shut down the starters late in the game and Kobe brought the team back against the Kings' JV squad. Bibby didn't even play at all in the final quarter, but Kobe sure had to.

Kobe didn't play in the second quarter, and only the last five minutes of the 4th.

Honestly, watching the game and the low minutes Phil played the starters (Kobe 33 minutes) they weren't concerned with the game at all. They had no reason to...they had that game in hand. They actually looked good that game, for once.

There's no way they can beat the Suns in a seven game series this year.

Never say never.

 

[kb24]

I think you will see similair stats to this. Lakers will dominate on the boards and Lamar will be the key to the series.This does not mean the Lakers automatically win the series,but winning the battle in the rebunding department is huge in the playoffs. This is not the regular season and the give the ball only to Kobe offense. Phil will go back to Lamar in the post a lot more this series. He has not used that strategy since the playoffs and Game 1 this year without Kobe.

http://sportsline.com/nba/gamecenter/recap/NBA_20061031_PHO@LAL

 

[D-Dogg]

...and now D-Dogg goes on my ignore list.

Can you imagine what it would be like to have him modding this place?

LOL??? Why? Good god you people have thin ass skin. Weak as hell.

And there was no election for Mod...it was for fun.

If you seriously put me on ignore you are the weakest little girl I've ever seen, especially since I've not even said one thing out of line to you.

Holy crap is that hilarious! Awesome. I guess you will want a suicide watch if the Lakers actually win this series then, since you can't handle a Laker fan who thinks they will probably lose.

 

[tobiazz]

I think you will see similair stats to this. Lakers will dominate on the boards and Lamar will be the key to the series.This does not mean the Lakers automatically win the series,but winning the battle in the rebunding department is huge in the playoffs. This is not the regular season and the give the ball only to Kobe offense. Phil will go back to Lamar in the post a lot more this series. He has not used that strategy since the playoffs and Game 1 this year without Kobe.

http://sportsline.com/nba/gamecenter/recap/NBA_20061031_PHO@LAL

So you think the Suns will play like they did the FIRST game of this season, during their 3-6 streak, Amare will only take two shots and get 2 boards in 12 minutes of play, and Banks will play 19 minutes. This might be the most lopsided series of the first round. The Lakers have no realistic chance of winning this series--No more chance than any other underdog team in the playoffs.

 

[F-Dog]

I think you will see similair stats to this. Lakers will dominate on the boards and Lamar will be the key to the series.This does not mean the Lakers automatically win the series,but winning the battle in the rebunding department is huge in the playoffs. This is not the regular season and the give the ball only to Kobe offense. Phil will go back to Lamar in the post a lot more this series. He has not used that strategy since the playoffs and Game 1 this year without Kobe.

http://sportsline.com/nba/gamecenter/recap/NBA_20061031_PHO@LAL

What does Phil Jackson call that strategy, do you think? The "Jeff Gillooly"?

 

[D-Dogg]

What does Phil Jackson call that strategy, do you think? The "Jeff Gillooly"?

You should probably put him on ignore. That's a really cool strategy. Phil calls that the Ostrich.

 

[tobiazz]

What does Phil Jackson call that strategy, do you think? The "Jeff Gillooly"?

No, the "Jeff Gillooly" is what the Suns need to employ if the Hawks win the draft lottery.